Heat interchanger



June 7, 1932. F. M. YOUNG 1,861,676

HEAT INTERCHANGER Filed June l, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l j@ ff TQ@ June 7, 1932. F' M YOUNG I HEAT INTERCHANGER Filed June l, 1931 3 Sheets-5h96?I 2 June v7, 1932.

F. M. YQUNG 1,861,676

HEAT INTERCHANGER Filed June l, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES :man n. YOUNG, or RACINE, wisconsin HEAT INTERCHANGER Application led .Tune 1, 1931. Serial No 541,158.

This invention relates to radiators particularly designed for use in the heating and ventilation of buildings, drying rooms, etc., or as heat interchangers for refrigerating pure poses, and including the required air circulati ing means.

The main object of the invention is to provide space heating equipment of variable capacity and sectional construction whereby a i plurality of standard radiator core elements or sections may be connected in series between common end header tanks; further objects of the invention are to provide improvements in radiator shell constructions where- 35 by side plates connecting the. header tanks may freely expand and contract with the expansion and contraction of the core sections, and to provide a radiator of this class with a multiplicity of fan units for effecting independent or oppositely directed currents of heated air, and with means for preventing interference between the oppositely directed currents of air.

The objects of the invention maybe ac-` complished by the radiator constructions shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows in front elevation the ims@ proved sectional radiator.

2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the radiator shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the radiator shown in Fig. l.

Fig.' 5 shows in front elevation a modification including cast aluminum core sections and diierent means for permitting expansion 4o and contraction of the side plates of the radiator shell.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the construction lshown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the radiator in .which the end tanks carry separate fan units Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the linel for causing oppositely iiowing currents of air through the radiator.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 7, but with the air guiding hood omitted.

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an end view of the radiator shown in Figures 7 and 8, but with the air propulsion units and air guiding means omitted. f

Fig. 11 is a sectional detail taken on the line 11--11 of Fig. 7. i

The general features of the construction of the radiator or heat interchanger to which this invention relates include standard forms of core sections which are commonly used in the radiators for internal combustion engines or radiators commonly` termed space or unit heaters employed in the heating and Ventilating of manufacturing plants, theaters and other buildings.

The standard core sections are fabricated v from light sheet bronze or tubes to provide circulating means for the heating or cooling mediums, and they are generally provided with ins for increasing the radiatlng area of the core sections. The end header tanks also'may be of standard construction, and likewise the air circulating means. The latter may be fans driven by electric motors carried by arms or brackets most conveniently. attached to the end header tanks or radiator shell or frame structure. The improved construction utilizes a plurality of radiator core constructions which are standard in form and dimensions, but are so connected in series in a simple manner as to provide header tanks intermediate the core sections whereby the circulating fluid may freely pass from the ends of the tubes of one core section to another without requiring complicated joints. The side plates connect-ing the end header tanks are crimped or are made in a plurality of sections provided with expansion joints so that the side plates may either expand or conpansion and contraction of the core sections tract, or freely move to accommodate the eX- according to the variation in temperature of the latter.

The patent to F. M. Young, No. 1,753,587, April 8, 1930, space heaters, describes the construction of end header tanks and means for connecting the tanks to the core sections, mot-or driven fan and supporting arm therefor, which are suitable for use in connection with the present improvements, but not .shown ink detail in the accompanying drawings.

A plurality of fan units is used in the present construction to provide a large capacity heater unit in which one or more fan units may be operated to meet varying requirements in this respect. The fan units may be oppositely disposed to effect oppositely directed currents of heated air, and air guiding means are combined with these fan units to prevent interference between the oppositely directed air currents.

Referring to the drawings, the end header tanks 1 and 2 in the Various views are shown with means for connection to the heating medium supply and return conduits, Which connections, Figs. 1, 3 and 4,'are the interiorly threaded bosses 3 and 4, and in Figs. 5 and 6 the threaded apertures 5 and 6 at the large end of the header tanks. The header tanks are also provided with apertured lugs 7 and 8, for the purpose of attachment to radiator supporting means. In interior space heating, radiators are freguently hung from ceiling beams, and the lugs are for this purpose.

The core sections of the radiators as described in Patent No. 1,753,587 have end header plates to which core tubes are soldered or otherwise joined, and the header tanks are attached to these plates. Improved means for connecting adjacent core sections, as illus-l trated in Figs. 1 and 2, are such header plates 9 and 10 having bent anges 11 and 12 at their peripheries and which overlap and are hrazed together at 13 as indicatedl in Fig. 2. In this manner intermediate tanks 14 between the core sections serve as connecting circulating means between-a series of standard core sections. 1

Side plates A14 and 15, Fig. 1, are transversely crimped either centrally as indicated at 16, or near their ends, as indicated at 17, to provide for expansion and contraction of these plates with the core sections.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the side plates are formed of a plurality of sections 18 which overlap at 19 and have the elongated holes 2O through which pass bolts 21. This provides a sliding connection between the plates to permit their free motion as the end headers to which they are attached are pushed away or drawn inwardly by the core sections when expanding or contracting.

Fig. 5 shows a continuous core section eX- tending between the header tanks 1 and 2, in the form of cast aluminum tubes having staggered overlapping radiating fins.

Each of the radiators shown is equipped with a plurality of air circulating units for forcing air between the tubes of the core sections. These air circulating units are constructed as described in Patent No. 1,753,587, and are preferably carried by brackets 22 attached to pads 23, cast integrally with the header tanks. Electric motors 24 carried at the ends of the brackets drive the fans 25. The radiator shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is provided with fan units carried by the end header tanks, but arranged to propel oppositely directed currents of air through the radiator.

In order to prevent interference between these oppositely directed air currents, hoods 37, as shown in Fig. 7, guide air into the fan units and separate such flow from the outgoing heated air.

Relative movement between the side plates 26 and the remainder of the radiator construction is provided for by connecting these side plates to the header tanks 27 and 28 by means of the bent strips 29 shown in detail by Fig. 11. These strips include the loop portion 30. which provides for their free expansion. They are connected along one side to the header tank by bolts 31, and along the other side to side plates 26 by bolts 32. Thus, when the corepf the radiator expands or contracts relatively to the side plates 26, the

header tanks are pushed apart or drawn toward each other slightly, the motion being taken up with reference to the side plates 26 by looped plates 29.

The vertical supporting strips 33 for the air directing vanes 34, are likewise in U form, as shown in Fig.9. These strips are attached to the radiator shell by bolts 35, passing through the laterally bent portions 36 thereof.

From the foregoing it may be seen that a sectional radiator construction is provided in which a radiator of any desired capacity may be formedfrom a plurality of core sections connected together in series. If the unit is used for heating purposes, it may, without requiring special designing, be made to accommodate a particular steam temperature and iiow or rate of iow of hot water or, other heating medium, and be of such capacity as to efficiently meet given heating conditions. Also, the connecting side plates of the radiator are adapted to take care of the total expansion and .contraction in such a series of radiator core arrangements.

This multiple core radiator, having but one pair of header tanks permits economy in conduit Aconnections to the vtanks over the customary arrangement of a plurality of independent smaller size units. A saving of electrical connections is also made by having a plurality of motor fan units on the single radiator. When these units are under thermostaticcontrol, moderate changes in the atmospheric temperature are compensated for by shutting oii and turning on but one motor unit, While the other may run continuously, rather than shutting off and on the entire unit. Thus, on mild days, one portion of the heater serves the same as a small unit, While a large capacity heater is available for cold days.

Details of the construction illustrated may be modified Without departing from the invention as here deiined.

I claim:

l. A heat interchanger comprising a plurality of core sections arranged in series for circulation of a fluid from one section to another, each of said core sections having header plates at their ends, and means for connecting together adjacent plates to provide an intermediate compartment whereby a sealed communication is provided between core sections, header tanks at the distant ends of said cor-e sections, and side plates connecting said header tanks, each of said side plates comprising separate elements having an expansion joint therebetween.

2. A heat interchanger comprising end header tanks and an intermediate radiating core, and a plurality of fan units carried by said header tanks for creating a flow of air through said core.

3. A heat interchanger comprising end header tanks and an intermediate radiating core, and a plurality of oppositely disposed fan units carried'by said header tanks for creating currents of air in opposite directions through diferent portions of said core.

4. A heat interchanger comprising end header tanks and an intermediate radiating core, a plurality of oppositely disposed fan units carried by said header tanks for creating currents of air in opposite directions through said core, and air guiding means for separating the oppositely directed currents of air.

5. A heat interchanger comprising end header tanks and an intermediate radiating core, a plurality of oppositely disposed fan units carried by said header tanks for creating currents of air in opposite directions through said core, and air guiding hoods partly inclosing said fans and having inlets at right angles to the direction of air flow through said core.

6. A heat interchanger comprising a core comprising tubes with header tanks at opposite ends, and fin plates extending crosswise of the tubes, side plates extending between said header tanks to cover the side edges of said iin plates, and U-shaped expansion clips connecting one of said header tanks with the adjacent ends of said side plates.

7 In a. heat interchanger, a header tank comprising a body member having marginal flanges, a header sheet bolted to said flanges, tubes connected to said header sheet, iin plates carried by said tubes, side plates covering the ends of said iin plates and having one end extending across the adjacent portions of said marginal flanges, and angle clips having one leg thereof bolted to such marginal flange and having second leg extending along and secured to the adjacent side plate, said second leg being bowed to accommodate longitudinal expansion and contraction of the end plate.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois this 27th day of' May,

FRED M. YOUNG. 

